February 20/11 22:30 pm - Tour of Oman: Stage 6 and final GC

Posted by Editoress on 02/20/11

Results from the sixth and final stage of the Tour of Oman in Oman. Dominique Rollin (FDJ) finished 63rd on the stage in the same time as the winner Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad). Rollin finished 42nd in the overall.

Cavendish Claims His First Win of the 2011 Season

HTC-Highroad's Mark Cavendish has clinched his first win of the 2011 season in the final stage of the Tour of Oman from Qurayat to Mattrah Seafront.

Cavendish powered across the line ahead of Russia's Denis Galimzyanov and Italy's Andrea Guardini at the end of the 157 kilometer stage to claim a bunch sprint victory.

The British sprinter's win was HTC-Highroad's second victory in the 2011 Tour of Oman, after team-mate Matt Goss took Stage 2, also wearing the leader's jersey for two days.

"Everyone tries to go for the win in races like this so it's a bit hectic," Cavendish said afterwards, "But it was great, I had [team-mates] Hayden Roulston and Matt Goss looking after me in the finish, and they did a good job holding onto me and I did a good job holding onto them all the way through."

"Goss went at the end, I left a gap then went for it myself. It was difficult with the wind, but it all worked perfectly."

"It's always good to get the first victory of the year, too, it didn't work out the other day but now I've got it and I'm happy."

Following Cavendish's latest win, the HTC-Highroad men's team has now taken eleven victories this season.